Tampa Bay Rays vs Athletics Picks and Prediction for Tuesday August 11 2026

The Tampa Bay Rays visit the Athletics at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento, California, on Tuesday, August 11, 2026. First pitch is scheduled for 9:40 p.m. ET with coverage on MLB.TV. Tampa Bay enters at 71-46 overall and 30-28 on the road, while the Athletics are 47-71 overall and 21-36 at home. The Rays lead the AL East and enter this series playing some of their best baseball of the season, while the Athletics sit fourth in the AL West. At the time of this writing the odds were not released. Check out our free MLB picks for more predictions from Tuesday's MLB schedule.

Starting Pitchers

Nick Martinez is scheduled to start for Tampa Bay with an 11-3 record, 2.65 ERA and 1.10 WHIP through 129 innings. The right-hander has allowed 122 hits while issuing only 20 walks, striking out 73 and surrendering 15 home runs. The Athletics counter with Mason Barnett, who is 1-2 with a 5.56 ERA and 1.38 WHIP through 34 innings. Barnett has allowed 30 hits and 17 walks while striking out 36 and surrendering eight home runs. Martinez gives Tampa Bay a substantial advantage based on his ERA, WHIP and ability to limit free passes.

Rays Take a Winning Streak Into Sacramento

Tampa Bay enters Tuesday at 71-46 overall and has won six consecutive games. The Rays have won each of their last five listed contests, including a three-game road sweep of Seattle in which they allowed only four total runs. Tampa Bay also won consecutive games at Colorado, including a 4-0 shutout and a 9-7 extra-inning victory.

The Rays are batting .259 with a .329 on-base percentage and .402 slugging percentage. Tampa Bay has scored 519 runs while collecting 1,011 hits and hitting 119 home runs. The pitching staff has been one of the club's biggest strengths with a 3.68 ERA and 1.14 WHIP while holding opponents to a .228 batting average.

Tampa Bay has advantages over the Athletics in batting average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage, but the most significant difference comes on the mound. The Rays' 3.68 ERA is nearly two runs better than Oakland's 5.41 mark. Tampa Bay has also allowed just 11 runs across its last five games, making the Rays difficult to oppose in their current form.

Athletics Try to Build on Consecutive Wins

The Athletics enter at 47-71 overall and have struggled at Sutter Health Park with a 21-36 home record. They have won two straight after taking consecutive games in Boston, including a 4-3 victory Sunday and a 7-3 win Saturday. Those victories followed three consecutive losses in which the Athletics allowed 22 combined runs.

The Athletics are batting .243 with a .317 on-base percentage and .398 slugging percentage. They have scored 510 runs while collecting 974 hits and hitting 139 home runs. Power has been one of the stronger parts of the offense, with the Athletics hitting 20 more home runs than Tampa Bay.

Pitching remains the major problem. The Athletics own a 5.41 ERA and 1.50 WHIP while opponents are batting .268. Barnett's 5.56 ERA and eight home runs allowed through only 34 innings do little to alleviate that concern against a Tampa Bay team carrying considerable momentum into the matchup.

Tampa Bay Rays vs Athletics Picks and Prediction

Pick: Tampa Bay Rays Moneyline

Tampa Bay is the preferred side behind the combination of Martinez and a considerable overall pitching advantage. Martinez enters at 11-3 with a 2.65 ERA and 1.10 WHIP, while Barnett owns a 5.56 ERA and 1.38 WHIP. The Rays have also won six consecutive games and are facing an Athletics club that is only 21-36 at home. Tampa Bay owns the better batting average, on-base percentage, team ERA, WHIP and opponent batting average, making the Rays the stronger option even if the eventual moneyline carries a relatively expensive price. Take the Tampa Bay Rays on the moneyline.

Total Pick: Under 9.0

The Under 9.0 is the preferred total because Martinez and the Tampa Bay pitching staff have been particularly effective entering this matchup. The Rays have allowed just four runs over their last four games and 11 across their last five, while Martinez brings a 2.65 ERA and has issued only 20 walks through 129 innings. The Athletics possess enough power to create some concern, and their pitching staff could allow Tampa Bay to do most of the scoring needed to threaten the number. Still, the Rays have held opponents to three runs or fewer in four straight games, giving the Under value at a relatively generous number. Take the Under 9.0 if that number is available.

This game preview was completed prior to play on Monday, August 10, 2026.